Improvement in electric stamp-cancelers



B S. DOW. BESTAVAILABLE COPY Electric Stamp-Canceled.

No. 206,546. Patented 1% 32,1878.

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m 0 Q a @aw e w M42754 cam asst AVAILABLE COPY UNITED STATES PATENTOEEIoE.

ELI s. new, or DAYTON, OHIO, assieivon TO GRAHAM .n. DEJNIS, or sAMnPLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC STAMP-CANCELERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,546, dated July3.30, 1878; application filed February 8, 1573.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI S. Dow, of Dayton, in the county oflllontgomeryand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Stamp-Cancclers; andI do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention has for its object the production of an improvedstamp-canceler.

It is .well known that the Government is subjected to heavy losses byreason of parties cleansing postage-stamps that have once been usedand'canceled, and then using them a second time, or oftener.

My invention consists in the novel construction of a hand-stamp whosedie is heated by electricity, provided with a circuit-comiector, which,when the handle of the caneeler is grasped, completes the circuit forthe purpose of heating (the die, and which, when the device is laiddown, automatically breaks the circuit and allows the die to cool. Thenovelty consists in the application to an electric stamp-canceler of anautomatic circuit connector and breaker, which keeps the die constantlyheated while the device is held in the hand for use, and which breaksthe current to cool the die as soon as the hand is removed also indetails of construction, as will be herewith set forth and specificallyclaimed.

The application of my invention may be thus illustrated, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevationof a die for canceling postage-stamps by electricity. Fig. 2 is acentral sectional view, in elevation, of the same. Fig. 3 is abottonrplan view of the same.

A is a metallic base-plate, of the shape shown, carrying on its top asocket, B, into which a wooden handle, 0, is fitted, as represented. Onthe under side of the base-plate are fitted the ordinary metal die 1),provided with letters for afiixing the post-mark, and used with anink-pad in the usual way, and a metal socket-piece, E, in which a shortglass or other non conductin g cylinder, F, is secured, as shown.

Into the top of "the handle are secured two connectors, (l; G, of theusual construction.

From the formerof these a copper wire,((, Fig. 3, extends through thehandle and terminates at the lower edge of the glass cylinder. From theconnector G a wire extends partly through the handle, and is united to ametal plate or block, a, Fig. 2, embedded in the handle. The handle isrecessed at this point, as shown, and near its lower end, over therecess, is secured a spring-plate, b, of the shape shown. From the lowerportion of the inner side of this plate a wire, 0, extends through thehandle and down through the center of the glass cylinder F, at the lowerface of which it terminates. Resting upon the lowcrface of this cylinderis a coil of fine platinum wire, (I, Fig. 2, of any desired shape,having its ends connected, respectively, to the ends of the wires 0 anda, as shown. Connected to the inner side of the plate b, just over theblock a, is ametallic point or lug, j", which, upon the operatorslightly pressing the plate, comes into contact with the block a.

The operation of the device is follows \Yires from the two poles of anelectric battery are connected, respectively, to the connectors G G, andthe die is ready for use. The op crator has only to grasp the handle,when the point on the plate 1) comes in contact with the block a, asbefore stated, andjthus an electric current is established,whiehinstantly heats the platinum wire rod or even white hot. It onlyremains then to use the device as an ordinary hand-stamp on letters. Thecontact of the red-hot platinum wire with the postagestamps burns themso ei'tectnally as to destroy them and render them unfit for furtheruse. By using a fine wire, the depth of the burn can be confined to thestamp alone, so as not to injure the envelope or even touch it. Upon theoperator releasing his grasp upon the handle the circuit is broken andthe die becomes cool again almost instantly.

I am aware that it is not new to apply electricity to a die forcanceling postage or other stamps, and consequently do not claim theprocess. Such devices, though, as have been hitherto constructed do notkeep up a constant current of electricity while in use, so as to keepthe die uniformly and constantly hot, but after each stroke of the diethe circuit is broken and the die becomes cool. By my construction,however, the die while bein gused is kept automatically and constantlyheated, and only when laid down becomes cool. If the circuit werepermanently maintained, so as to require special means or devices todisconnect it, the attendant might forget it, and the die might set fireto any object with which it came in contact.

WVhile especially useful in canceling postagestamps, this device mightbe employed equally well in branding beer-kegs or cigar-boxes.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as follows:

The combination, in an electric stamp-can- BEIST AVAILABLE COPY celer,of the handle 0, non-conducting CZl-Illt F, the wires from'an electricbattery, one which is attached to a coil or die of platinun and thespring-plate 1), arranged upon the side of the handle and constructed asdescribed, whereby when the handle is grasped the die is kept constantlyand uninterruptedly heated, and whereby when laid aside the circuit isautomatically broken, as set forth.

WVitness my hand this 2d day of February, A. D. 1878.

ELI S. DOW. Witnesses Guns. M. PEcK, GRAHAM B. DENNIS.

